Shloka 19

कामविवाहवर्णनम् / Description of Kāma’s Marriage

Devanagari script

रंभास्तंभायतं स्निग्धं यदूरुयुगलं मृदु । निजशक्तिसमं कामो वीक्षांचक्रे मनोहरम्

Transliteration

raṃbhāstaṃbhāyataṃ snigdhaṃ yadūruyugalaṃ mṛdu | nijaśaktisamaṃ kāmo vīkṣāṃcakre manoharam

Translation

Kāma gazed upon her pair of thighs—soft, smooth, and lustrous, like the plantain-stem and like Rambhā’s—most charming, and equal to his own power of enchantment.

Word by Word

• रंभा-स्तंभ-आयतम्: long like a plantain-stem
• रंभा-स्तंभ-आयतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रंभा (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तंभ (प्रातिपदिक) + आयत (कृदन्त; √यम् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः; ‘रंभायाः स्तंभ इव आयतम्’ = elongated like a plantain-stem

• स्निग्धम्: smooth
• स्निग्धम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; ‘smooth/unctuous’

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचकं सर्वनाम; ‘which’

• ऊरु-युगलम्: pair of thighs
• ऊरु-युगलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक) + युगल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘ऊर्वोः युगलम्’ = pair of thighs

• मृदु: soft
• मृदु: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः/विशेषणम्; ‘soft/tender’

• निज-शक्ति-समम्: equal to (his) own power
• निज-शक्ति-समम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘निजया शक्त्या समम्’ = equal to his own power

• कामः: Kāma (Cupid)
• कामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन; देवता-नाम

• वीक्षाम्: a glance
• वीक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; ‘a look/glance’

• चक्रे: made/cast
• चक्रे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘did/made’

• मनोहरम्: charming
• मनोहरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; ‘charming’ (qualifying the object seen)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Kama
• Rambha

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse highlights kāma (desire) as a powerful force that captivates the mind through beauty and sense-perception; in a Shaiva Siddhanta reading, such attraction exemplifies pāśa (bondage) that the soul must transcend by turning toward Pati (Śiva), the Lord who is beyond sensory compulsion.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

As the narrative shows desire arising through form and charm (saguṇa experience), it indirectly points to why devotees seek refuge in Śiva—worship of the Liṅga and Saguna Śiva disciplines the senses and reorients attention from fleeting beauty to the eternal presence of the Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sense-restraint (indriya-nigraha) supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and steady dhyāna on Śiva’s form or the Liṅga, transforming desire into devotion and reducing attachment.